Science Policy Workshop for Microbiologists

Overview

The Science Policy Workshop for Microbiologists will take place on Monday 25 November 2019 at Wesley Hotel and Conference Centre, London.

The workshop, held in partnership with SfAM, will highlight how the science of microbiology can inform and shape public policy and demonstrate how microbiologists can boost their impact by engaging with policymakers and the policymaking process.
Delegates do not need any prior science policy experience and the workshop is open to members of the Microbiology Society and SfAM. Applications are particularly encouraged from early career scientists (PhD, post-doctoral researchers, new lecturers) for whom travel grants are available.

Throughout the workshop, delegates will have the opportunity to engage with science policy experts from UK Parliament and Government and will participate in a practical group activity. After this one-day workshop, you will understand:

• The differences between parliament and government and how they make use of science
• The different channels through which evidence informs policymaking
• The role that the Microbiology Society and SfAM and play in supporting the voice of microbiology and influencing policy stakeholders 
• How to communicate your research in a tailored way for policy audiences

Please note: members of the SfAM may register for this workshop on the SfAM event page.

Programme

Please note this is agenda is provisional and subject to change.

09:30–10:00	Arrival and refreshments
10:00–11:30	How does science influence parliament and government, and how can microbiologists have an impact?
11:30–12:00	Panel Q&A
12:00–13:00	Lunch
13:00–14:30	Afternoon breakout activity
14:30–15:00	Refreshments
15:00–16:30	Return to breakout activity
16:30–18:00	Drinks and networking

Speakers

This page will be updated as invited speakers are confirmed.

Grant Hill-Cawthorne

Head at Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, UK Parliament

Dr Grant Hill-Cawthorne is a medical microbiologist and the Head of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). After completing medicine and medical training at the University of Cambridge he went to Saudi Arabia to set up a laboratory specialising in pathogen genomics, where he completed his PhD on the use of genomics for public health microbiology. In 2011–2012 he was an NHS Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow and the Clinical Adviser to the Deputy Chief Executive of NICE. From 2013–2018, Grant was the Senior Lecturer in Communicable Diseases Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Sydney. Since May 2018, Grant has headed POST, the academic unit within the UK Parliament that bridges research and policy (https://www.parliament.uk/post/). Grant continues as an adjunct Associate Professor in Global Health at the University of Sydney.

Ben Bleasdale 

Policy Adviser at Wellcome Trust, UK

Dr Ben Bleasdale is a Policy Adviser at Wellcome, an independent charitable foundation which supports research to improve health across the world. His work focusses on the factors which support good science – from Wellcome’s major new initiative to improve research culture, to securing the future of public investment in R&D. He has previously held roles at the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Medical Research Council.

Daniel Rathbone

Assistant Director at Campaign for Science and Engineering, UK

Daniel joined CaSE in January 2019 as Assistant Director. In this role he is head of policy for CaSE, shaping its policy agenda with the support of the Executive Director. Daniel has a background across the physical sciences and completed his PhD at Imperial College London, developing computer simulations of the behaviour of powders and grains. He has previously worked for the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee and the House of Commons Library.  

Liz Killen

Senior Research Officer at Government Office for Science, UK

Liz Killen works for the UK Government Office for Science as a Senior Research Officer. She has previously worked for the Australian Government as a nuclear medicine chemist and deputy production manager. She studied for her BEng in chemical engineering in Sydney, Australia, and for her MSc in Science Communication at Imperial College London. She has experience in the non-profit sector in the UK. While continuing her role with the Government Office for Science, Liz has recently started a PhD in Education at University of Cambridge and is the President of the Cambridge University Science and Policy Exchange. 

 

Registration

Registration is open.

There are 25 places available for members of the Microbiology Society to attend this workshop.

An administration fee will be charged upon registration for this workshop, which must be paid in full before arrival at the meeting. This administration fee is non-refundable.

Early bird administration fee: £10. Available until Sunday 27 October 2019.

Full administration fee: £15. Registration closes Friday 22 November 2019.

Once you have registered you should receive an automated confirmation email. Please contact [email protected] if after 24 hours this has not been received.

Venue

The workshop will take place at the Wesley Hotel & Conference Venue, 81-103 Euston St, London NW1 2EZ.

Directions and accessibility information

Please visit the venue website for more information.

Travel Grants

The Microbiology Society is pleased to offer up to 25 grants for eligible early career microbiologists who have registered for the Science Policy Workshop for Microbiologists to reimburse travel expenses up to £100.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a travel grant you should be:

• Full or Full Concessionary or Postgraduate Student member
• Member of the Early Career Microbiologists’ Forum (free to join)
• You must have already registered for the course

Administration of awards

Applicants will be notified if they have been awarded a grant soon after 27 October 2019. An expense claim form will then be provided which should be submitted within 6 weeks following the date of the workshop. We may not reimburse claims if this date is exceeded.

What is covered by the grant?

The grant covers all reasonable travel costs associated with attending this workshop. Full itemised receipts will be required for reimbursement.
 

Terms and conditions

Grants are to support attendance to the Science Policy Workshop for Microbiologists on 25 November 2019. Retrospective applications will not be considered.

Grants will be awarded at the discretion of the Society to applicants who have registered for a place on the workshop. By accepting a grant, recipients give their approval for the Society to use this and related information in publicity and marketing communications.
 

Application process

Please complete the form below and submit to [email protected] by 27 October 2019.

Science Policy Workshop Grant Application Form